Swivel sander



Feb. 19, 1957 J. J. LINES 2,781,617

SWIVEL SANDER Filed May 27, 1955 Jerry J. Lines INVENToR.

www? 12mm Sm Pm ma 2,781,617 SWIVEL SANDER v Jerry J. Lines, Eau claire, wis. Application May 27, 195s, serial No. 511,460

l f3 Claims. ..(Cl. 51-195) Thisfinveritionrelates in general'to new and useful improvements in sanding heads, and 'more specicallyl to an improved swivelsander.

In order to perform yan effective sanding operation, it is necessary that a sanding disk be fully engaged with the'surface being sanded.,V However, this is diiiicult to d-o when the sanding disk is rigidly connected to a motor inasmuch as ones hand cannotv hold the sanding disk steady. l

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved sanding head which is connected to a supporting shaft for swivel movement whereby the sanding head may follow the contour of the work being sanded and at the same time the power unit connected to the sanding head for rotating the same may be held in slight misalignment.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved swivel standard which includes a backing plate having connected thereto a shaft, the connection between the shaft and the backing plate being such that the shaft is permitted to swivel with respect to the backing plate and at the same time continuous to effectively drive the backing plate without any lost motion.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved swivel standard which incorporates a backing plate having secured thereto a housing, the housing being provided with a plurality of pockets, `there being disposed within the housing one end of a shaft which is provided with a head, the head being provided with sockets aligned the pockets, there being balls seated in both the pockets and the sockets to connect the head to the housing and at the same time permit swivel movement of the head with respect to such housing.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the swivel sander, which is the subject of this invention, and shows the same attached to a power head;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2 2 of Figure 1 ,and showing the general details of the swivel connection between the shaft and the back plate of the swivel sander, pivoted positions of the shaft being shown by lboth dash-dot lines and dash lines; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the section line 3--3 of Figure l and shows the manner in which the shaft is swivelly connected to the backing plate by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced balls.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figure 1 a power head which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The power head 10 may be in the form of an electric drill or a special power head intended for driving a sanding disk. Connected to the power head 10 in top portion 18. The top portion 18 is provided with.

an enlarged centrally located opening 20.

Extending downwardly through the opening 20 is the drive shaft 22 whose opposite end is connected to the power head 1u. The shaft 22 has formed on the lower l endk thereof a'circular head 24 which closely fits within the housing 16. n

' The housing 16 is provided with a plurality of'circunferentially spaced, semi-circular cross sectional pockets 26 which are formed by outwardly projecting the main part of the housing 16. The pockets 26 extend vertically the full length of the housing 16, as is best illustrated in Figure 2. Aligned with the pockets 26 .and formed in the periphery of the head 24 is a plurality of circumferentially spaced sockets 28. Seated in each pair of pockets and sockets is a ball 30. The ball 30 drivingly connects the head 24 to the housing 16 and at the same time permits pivotal or swivel movement of the head 24 with respect to the housing 16, as is best illustrated in Figure. 2.

lt is to be noted that the central portion of the backing plate 14 is upwardly bowed as at 32. This provides a generally spherical seat upon which the head 24 seats and permits the swivel movement thereof with respect to the housing 16.

Secured to the underside of the backing plate 14 is a suitable resilient pad 34. Removably secured to the face of the pad 34 is a conventional type of sanding disk 36. f

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will be readily apparent that the backing plate 14, the resilient pad 34 and the sanding disk 36 Will be permitted to be retained in the proper sanding lrelationship with respect to a surface being sanded and at the same time the driving head 10 is slightly misaligned. When the driving head 1d is slightly misaligned, t-he sanding disk 36 will continue to followV the contour ot' the surface being sanded and the shaft 22 and its head 24 will swivel with respect to the housing 16 and the backing plate thereby continuing to effectively rotate the backing plate la and the sanding disk 36.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invenvtion to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and'accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A swivel sander comprising a backing plate, a housing secured to one side of said backing plate, a shaft,

said shaft having one end extending intosaid housing, 1 a head ou said shaft within said housing, pockets formed in said housing in circumferentially spaced relation, sockp ets in said head aligned with said pockets, and'ball members freely seated in said sockets and said pockets connecting said shaft to said housing, said backing plate hav- Pawnee Feb. 151,195?v ing a bowed portion projecting into said housing, said head being seated on said bowed portion.

2. A swivel sander comprising a backing plate, a generally cylindrical'housing secured to one sideof said backing plate at the center thereof, outwardly projecting vertical pockets on said housing, said pockets being of generally semi-circu1ar cross-section and arranged in circumferentially spaced relation, a drive shaft extending into said housing remote from said backing plate, a head on said shaft, said head being positioned within said housing, said housing having a top portion retaining said hea-.11 in said housing, an opening in said top portion receiving said shaft, said head being circular in outline and disposed closely adjacent said housing, circumferentially spaced sockets in said head aligned with said pockets, and ball members freely seated in said sockets and pockets for rotating, said ball members drivingly connecting said shaft to said housing. Y

3. A swivel sander comprising a backing plate, a generally cylindrical housing secured to one side of said backing plate at the center thereof, outwardly projecting vertical pockets on said housing, said pockets being of generally semi-circular cross-section and arranged in circumferentially spaced relation, a drive shaft extending into said housing remote from said backing plate, a head on aranci? 4 said shaft, said head being positioned within said housing, said housing having a top portion retaining said head in said housing, an opening in said top portion receiving said shaft, said head being circular in outline and disposed closely adjacent said housing, circumferentially spaced sockets in said head aligned with said pockets, and ball members freely seated in said sockets and pockets for rotating, said ball members drivingly connecting said shaft to said housing, Said backing plate having a bowed central portion projecting into said housing, said head being seated on said bowed portion for rocking movell'lellt.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,134,116 Ferrarini Apr. 6, 1915 1,142,570 La Hodny June 8, 1915 1,208,252 Westinghouse Dec. 12, 1916 1,334,224 Campbell Mar. 16, 1920 2,359,608 Burr Oct. 3, 1944 2,371,021 Berry Mar. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 570,299 France Apr. 26, 192.4 

